KELSO HOMELESS SUPPORT

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Children and Youth Program
was designed to make sure all homeless children and youth
have equal access to the same free and appropriate public
education as children and youth who are not homeless.
This includes preschool education. State and local educational
agencies are required to develop, review and revise policies
to remove barriers to the enrollment, attendance and success in
school that homeless children and youth may experience.Local educational agencies also must provide homeless
children and youth with the opportunity to meet the same
challenging state content and state student performance
standards to which all students are held.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (also referred to as the Act or the McKinney-Vento Act) acknowledges that disputes may arise between the school district and homeless students and their parents, or unaccompanied youth, when the district seeks to place a student in a school other than the school of origin or the school requested by the parent or unaccompanied youth. The Act includes dispute resolution among the required duties of the local education agency (LEA) liaison. The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has developed a dispute resolution process as required by the McKinney-Vento Act.

HOMELESS STUDENT INFORMATION

Students who are homeless have educational rights under Federal law (the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act). Updated 2.20.18

This includes students that are defined as lacking a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence, including those students who are: (1) Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing or economic hardship, or a similar reason;(2) Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; (3). Living in emergency or transitional shelters; (4). Abandoned in hospitals; (5). Living in public or private places not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodations for human beings; (6). Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, transportation stations or similar settings; (7). Migratory children living in conditions described in the previous examples.

The McKinney-Vento Act protects the educational rights of homeless children and youth. Your child CAN get the EDUCATION she or he DESERVES! Any child who qualifies for McKinney-Vento services because of homelessness, or any of the above conditions, has RIGHTS.

Educational RIGHTS for homeless children:

To remain enrolled in, and be transported to, the student’s School of Origin (last school) , even if you move across the District, or out of District.

To be enrolled immediately (even without medical or school records) in the student’s neighborhood school (if that’s what you would prefer).

To receive FREE breakfast and lunch in schools that serve both).

To not pay school fees (you should NOT have to pay for fees for books for class, for field trips, for school sports, etc.).

Help with basic school supplies including uniforms, shoes, etc. • (If you can’t afford calculators, binders, paper, or other required supplies, talk with your child’s school and get HELP).

To receive the same educational supports as all students. If your child is struggling with class work, advocate by asking the school staff for additional supports.School offers students stability, friendship, & opportunities to learn and grow in a safe environment. School offers children a chance for a BETTER tomorrow— better jobs, better pay, better future. Keep your children in school!

TUTORING AT COMMUNITY HOUSE

The Kelso School District is partnering with Community House on Broadway to offer instructional support and tutoring to Kelso school students who are currently staying at Community House. For more information, or to enroll your student in this program, please call or email Don Iverson at don.iverson@kelsosd.org or call 360.501.1907 for more information.

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

Kelso School District #458 complies with all federal rules and regulations and does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups listed in Title 36 of the United States Code. The following employee(s) has been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Tim Peterson, Director of Human Resources, the school district's Title VII Officer and ADA Coordinator. People of disability may request reasonable accommodation in the hiring process by contacting, Tim Peterson, Director of Human Resources, 601 Crawford Street, Kelso, WA 98626 or (360) 501-1924.
Inquiries regarding compliance procedures regarding students may be directed to Don Iverson, Director of Student Services, the school district’s Title IX Coordinator or Denise Freund, Director of Special Programs, the school district’s Section 504 Coordinator, 601 Crawford Street, Kelso, WA 98626 (360) 501-1900.